What it is
Metformin reduces glucose production by the liver and helps the body use insulin better. It rarely causes low blood sugar on its own.
X'inhu (Maltese)
Il-metformin inaqqas il-produzzjoni taz-zokkor mill-fwied u jgħin lill-ġisem juża l-insulina aħjar. Rari jikkawża zokkor baxx waħdu.
Used for
- Type 2 diabetes
- Sometimes used in polycystic ovary syndrome
Jintuża għal (Maltese)
- Dijabete tip 2
- Kultant jintuża fis-sindromu tal-ovarji poliċistiċi
Typical use
Started at a low dose with food and increased slowly to reduce stomach upset. Follow the local formulary or SPC.
Użu tipiku (Maltese)
Jinbeda b'doża baxxa mal-ikel u jiżdied bil-mod biex jitnaqqas l-inkwiet fl-istonku. Segwi l-formularju lokali jew l-SPC.
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Metallic taste
- Vitamin B12 deficiency with long-term use
Effetti sekondarji komuni (Maltese)
- Dardir
- Dijarea
- Togħma ta' metall
- Nuqqas ta' vitamina B12 bl-użu fit-tul
Cautions
- Reduced kidney function
- Dehydration or acute illness — pause the medicine
- Before contrast scans
- Heavy alcohol use
Prekawzjonijiet (Maltese)
- Funzjoni mnaqqsa tal-kliewi
- Deidratazzjoni jew mard akut — waqqaf il-mediċina temporanjament
- Qabel skans bil-kuluri ta' kuntrast
- Użu qawwi ta' alkoħol
What to tell the patient
Take it with food to protect your stomach. If you are vomiting, have diarrhoea or cannot drink, stop it for those days and tell us.
X'tgħid lill-pazjent (Maltese)
Ħudu mal-ikel biex tipproteġi l-istonku. Jekk tkun qed tirremetti, ikollok dijarea jew ma tkunx tista' tixrob, waqqfu għal dawk il-ġranet u għidilna.
Clinical codes
- ATC A10BA02 · metformin
Educational reference only — not a substitute for clinical judgement, local guidelines or the SPC.